Hurricanes to play Don Bosco Prep

By JOHN LEMBO
jlembo@bradenton.com
BRADENTON — The Manatee Hurricanes are headed to New Jersey.
Assistant coach Chris Conboy the team has reached an agreement to play Don Bosco Prep, the top-ranked prep football team in the country based out of Ramsey, N.J., Friday Sept. 24 in Ramsey.
The Don Bosco game is “99.9 percent” a go, said Conboy, adding the contract could be signed either later this week or early next week.
“I don’t like saying 100 percent until the contract is signed,” he said.
Manatee will arrive in New Jersey on Thursday, play the game Friday and head back to Bradenton on Saturday afternoon. Ramsey is located 31 miles from New York City, and Conboy said trips to spots such as the Statue of Liberty and Ground Zero are part of the itinerary.
“When we played in the state championship game (at the Citrus Bowl), a lot of our kids ran out of the tunnel and were in awe,” Conboy said. “Some of our kids have never taken a trip, have never flown on a plane, and won’t fly on a plane until their first recruiting trip. This is an horizon-broadening thing for them.”
For the rest of this story, check out Tuesday's edition of The Herald.

Bayside coming to Bradenton this spring

Manatee has a new opponent for this year's spring game - Palm Bay Bayside.
The Bears, who the Hurricanes defeated for the Class 5A-Region 3 championship, are headed to Bradenton after Manatee's original opponent, Largo, pulled out of the game.
Manatee was scheduled to travel to Largo and will host the Bears, who hosted the regional final during a rainy Friday night in December.
The Hurricanes will host another postseason rematch when Tampa Plant, which defeated Manatee in the Class 5A state title game, heads to Hawkins Stadium for a Kickoff Classic in August.

Manatee football awards

Manatee's football team handed out awards during the team's banquet earlier this week.

Team captains - Brion Carnes, Ace Sanders, Deonte Huggins
Charles Brown Sr. 110% Effort Award - Ryan Brown
Booster President's Character Award - Clinton Heaven
Outstanding Special Teams Player - Austin Smith
Outstanding Offensive Linemen - Nick Galati
Outstanding Receiver - Ace Sanders
Outstanding Defensive Back - Deonte Huggins
Comeback Player Award - Drakkar Wilson
Big Play Award - Shaunski Lawrence
Hammer Award - Travon Montgomery
12th Man Award - David Sheehan
Most Improved Offense - Michael Duff
Most Improved Defense - Davian Evans
Coaches' Award Offense - Quenton Bundrage
Coaches' Award Defense - Taylor Shipley
Co-Most Valuable Player Offense - Mike Blakely, Brion Carnes
Most Valuable Player Defense - Quinton Pompey

Sanders headed to South Carolina

One of the most hotly-coveted recruits in the area has made commitment.
Manatee senior wide receiver Ace Sanders has verbally committed to South Carolina, said Hurricanes head coach Joe Kinnan.
"They recruited the daylights out of him," Kinnan said. "He would have been a good fit for anybody. He can catch, he can return kicks...They got a good one."
Kinnan said Sanders has cancelled his scheduled visit to West Virginia.
Sanders had 65 catches in helping Manatee reach the Class 5A state final.
"He was very mature about how he approached it," Kinnan said. "He didn't make visits to places he wasn't interested in, to not waste his time or their time."

Sanders headed to South Carolina

One of the most hotly-coveted recruits in the area has made commitment.
Manatee senior wide receiver Ace Sanders has verbally committed to South Carolina, said Hurricanes head coach Joe Kinnan.
"They recruited the daylights out of him," Kinnan said. "He would have been a good fit for anybody. He can catch, he can return kicks...They got a good one."
Kinnan said Sanders has cancelled his scheduled visit to West Virginia.
Sanders had 65 catches in helping Manatee reach the Class 5A state final.
"He was very mature about how he approached it," Kinnan said. "He didn't make visits to places he wasn't interested in, to not waste his time or their time."

FHSAA developing provisions for Haitian refugees

The Florida High School Athletic Association is making preparations for the arrival of Haitian student-athletes heading to Florida in the wake of Haiti's devastating earthquake.
A conference call with superintendents and athletic directors has been scheduled for to deal with those students' eligibility.
The FHSAA provided refuge in 2005 for those affected by Hurricane Katrina. This is different, however, because of possible complications that can arise with immigration from another country and the students' potential lack of documentation.
"We are trying to be proactive in handling the influx of students from Haiti,” FHSAA executive director Roger Dearing said on the association's Web site. “The FHSAA will cooperate with individual schools, school districts and the Department of Education to help with the transition.”

Mustangs' opponent stripped of regional tennis title

Naples Barron Collier, which defeated Lakewood Ranch's and Bayshore's boys tennis teams during last year's Class 3A regional playoffs, has been stripped of its regional title for using an ineligible player, according to a story on the Naples Daily News' Web site.
The Cougars defeated the Bruins in the semifinals and Lakewood Ranch in the finals, advancing to the state tournament. According to the story, the Florida High School Athletic Association ruled back in June the Cougars had used an ineligible player, Bjorn Fratangelo, in the regional matches.
Fratangelo did not compete in district play because he was playing in the Easter Bowl and returned to play No. 1 doubles against Bayshore and Lakewood Ranch. Rather The FHSAA ruled Fratangelo was listed as the team's No. 1 singles player instead of being listed as an alternate, rendering him ineligible.
Bayshore and Lakewood Ranch filed protests following their losses last spring. Both were denied.
"After reviewing the situation and following my discussions with Mr. Gary Pigott (the association's senior director of athletics) … Barron Collier coach Eric Manring misinformed Mr. Pigott as to (Fratangelo’s) status on the district entry list,” Roger Dearing, the FHSAA's executive director, wrote in a letter to Lakewood Ranch principal Mike Wilder, according to the Naples Daily News. “Mr. Pigott was (led) to believe that (Fratangelo) was listed as an alternate on the district tennis entry list and not as the No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles player on the entry list for the district tournament.”
Barron Collier coach Eric Manring told the paper he never said Fratangelo was an alternate.
The Cougars were the only team to defeat Lakewood Ranch, which finished 19-1.